Some donors prefer to support the broad, ever-changing needs of the community. Others wish to have more hands-on involvement in grantmaking. Here are the fund types the Community Foundation offers:

• Fund for Community Good (Unrestricted): As community needs change, so will the programs that the funds support. Community Foundation staff, committee members and the Board decide how these funds are granted. The funds also support leadership initiatives. View recent grants.
• Field of Interest Fund: Donors select a specific area of interest, such as the arts, environment, children or health, and establish a fund to permanently support it. Community Foundation staff, committee members and the Board decide how these funds are granted.
• Donor Advised Fund: Individuals, families or businesses recommend grants to the nonprofits they care about most. If desired, donors can design a family grantmaking plan that includes the next generation.
• Scholarship Fund: Improve the lives of students with a permanent source of higher education funding. A board-approved volunteer committee reviews applications for the scholarship and selects the recipients based on donor criteria.
• Nonprofit Endowment Fund: Provides endowment funding for a specific nonprofit organization. The organization can build the fund over time. The nonprofit benefiting from the fund can take annual distributions or preserve available dollars for a large expense.

Learn more about the funds offered at the Community Foundation.

There are many ways to leave a bequest to the Community Foundation, including beneficiary designations of life insurance, Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA), Health Savings Accounts and others. Many donor partners find an advisor helpful in creating their planned gift, but it is not required. If you are considering creating or updating your will or trust, a list of professional advisor partners we have partnered with on charitable gifts is available at GRFoundation.org/Advisors.

Yes. Please contact a member of our development team to discuss your options.

• Specific or General Bequest: With a specific or general bequest, you designate that Grand Rapids Community Foundation is to receive a specific dollar amount or specific property.
  "I give to Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Grand Rapids, Michigan, a Michigan nonprofit corporation, (specific property or $) to be held, administered, and used by its Board of Trustees for support of its grant making and programming in the areas of greatest need and opportunity."
• Residuary Bequest: A residuary bequest is used to give Grand Rapids Community Foundation all (or a portion) of your property, after all debts, taxes, expenses, and all other bequests have been paid.
  "I give to Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Grand Rapids, Michigan, a Michigan nonprofit corporation, (all/%) of the remainder of my estate, both real and personal, to be held, administered, and used by its Board of Trustees for support of its grant making and programming in the areas of greatest need and opportunity"
• Contingent Bequest: In the event of an unexpected occurrence, a contingent bequest will ensure that property will pass to Grand Rapids Community Foundation rather than unintended beneficiaries.
  "If, at any time, there is no one to take under the other provisions of this Will, I give the property or funds to Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Grand Rapids, Michigan, a Michigan nonprofit corporation, to be held, administered, and used by its Board of Trustees for support of its grant making and programming in the areas of greatest need and opportunity."
• Restricted Bequest: You may prefer to restrict your bequest for a specific purpose. For example, if you wish to memorialize a family member or special friend or honor a colleague, you can establish a legacy fund that will provide support for a program in which you (or the person honored or memorialized) were particularly interested. A restricted bequest should be made in the broadest terms that are consistent with your purpose to guard against the possibility of your gift becoming impractical or obsolete.
  "I give to Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Grand Rapids, Michigan, a Michigan nonprofit corporation, (describe gift) to be held, administered and used by its Board of Trustees for the establishment of an endowed (insert type of fund) fund. Distributions from the fund are to be used by its Board of Trustees for (describe permitted distributions). The fund shall be named ___________."

Grand Rapids Community Foundation Tax ID Number: 38-2877959